Otter Brook is a small creek located in southwestern NH. NH route 9 parrallels the run for most of the way but is only occasionally visible from the river. It has a continuous gradient over its three mile course. The first half of the river is steeper with a few rock strewn ledge drops one of which is approximately 3Â. This one is located behind a home where the river swings left away from the road. Most paddlers boat scout the river as they run. Be aware that strainers are common; often trees will completely cross over and block the river. In medium to high water be especially cautious of strainers since the velocity of the water will shorten maneuvering time. At the two mile mark you will come across the new Granite Gorge Ski area which was recovered and rebuilt from the old abandoned
Pinnacle ski area. From here down the gradient slackens off and becomes more class II-III in nature. This is an alternate put in / take out. Early in the season the take out road at Otter Brook Park may be gated and closed due to snow. It will be necessary to carry up the hill approximately .2 miles. When open the take out is at a picnic area with picnic tables and bathroom facilities. The river from this point on is usually ponded by a flood control dam down to Lower Otter Brook about three miles.
### Technical info
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Put in elevation........997'
Take out elevation......735'
Total drop..............262'
Average drop/mile.......82'
Distance................3.2 miles
1st mile drop...........95'
2nd mile drop...........92'
3rd mile drop...........65'
4th mile drop...........10' (average 50')
River width average.....25'
River geology...........small to medium granite boulders, some ledge.
River water quality.....Good, clear except for quick runoff periods.
Scenery.................Good to excellent forest scenery. Route 9
occasionally visible along the river. About three or
four homes visible along the banks.
Wildlife................Occasional deer, hawks, Turkeys
Flow Info
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This section of Otter Brook lies above the flood control dam and therefore is a natural flow river.
Lower Otter Brook is below the dam and has scheduled spring releases.The USGS gauge is located below this flood control dam 3 miles downstream from the take out, therefore it should only be used as reference since the Army Corps of Engineers could be holding back water for flood control. To get a more accurate reading on the flow go to Army Corps of Engineers Otter Brook
tabular data and look at the last reading under the 'inflow cfs' heading. There is a hand painted gauge on the upstream side of the bridge at the put in where route 9 crosses Otter Brook. A good level is above 1.5 ft on this gauge located in East Sullivan. There is somewhat limited information at this time correlating the gauges. As more info is gathered the following table will be adjusted.
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(Sullivan) (Otter lake)
Put in gauge Inflow gauge
Minimum. 1.25 ~240 cfs
Scratchy